SIR SYED AHMED KHAN

Pakistan Studies
Introduction:
The Mughals were succeeded by imperialist British. The exit of the last
Mughal ruler was symbol of their downfall and also an end of their existence
as an independent nation. Both Hindu and Muslims fought the war of
independence, but the British fell more on the Muslim than on Hindus. They
considered the Muslims more aggressive and militant possessing memories
of recent rule in India and, therefore more dangerous. After 1857, the
Muslims emerged as a backward nation, illiterate and hopelessly ignorant.
They could not trust neither Hindus nor British, who spared no efforts in
crushing them. They felt that they had no future in India as they were at the
lowest ebb in the field of religion, economics, politics and education. In the
darkest days of Muslim’s national life, a great personality arose. At the
critical movement, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan came to the front of the battle and
led the struggle for the national emancipation of the Muslims. This
movement is known as Aligarh Movement.
The half-century after 1857 was dominated by the leaders of Aligarh
Movement, especially by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. Their policy was based on
loyalty to the British, Government was essential for success of their
undertaking.
His Life:
Sir Syed Ahmed Kahn was born on October 17, 1817 at Delhi in a noble
family. On his father side, he was descended from the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
in the 36th degree. His ancestors fief to Iran and finally settled in Herat
(Afghanistan). In the reign of Shah Jahan, his family came to India and
were appointed to responsible posts in the court and continued until the
reign of Akbar Shah II.
After the death of his Father, Syed Ahmed Khan decided to join the services
of East India Company as a clark in the commissioner of Agra. He got his
promotion soon as was a sub-judge in Bajnore. He got through the
examination of Judiciary in 1841. during the war of independent of 1857, he
saved the lives of 20 British people. The ravages suffered the Muslims after
the fall of Delhi, left deep impression upon him. In utter despair, he thought
to migrate to Egypt. But decided to remain in India and work for the welfare
of his nation.
In 1869 Sir Syed Ahmed Khan with his son Syed Mehmood went to
England where he stayed for 17th months. There he publish his book
Khutba-e-Ahmedia in the reply of William Mior’s sub standard book life of
Muhammad in 1876.After his service, he settled in Aligarh permanently.
Ideology of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan for a very long time believed that “India was a bride,
whose two beautiful eyes were Hindus and Muslims”, considered that
cooperation of both necessary for the happiness and progress. In 1867, he
applied to Governor General for the establishment of a separate institution of
advanced learning, where Urdu would be the medium of instruction. The
Government showed interest in Urdu University but the Hindus insisted on
Hindi, as a medium of instruction for Hindu students. In Hindu opposition, he
gave up the idea. In the same year the Hindus started agitation from Benares
for replacement of Urdu by Hindi as an official language.
In Bihar the Lieutenant-Governor acceded to Hindu demand and the
agitation against the use of Urdu in other provinces, thus gained momentum.
In the defense of Urdu, the Muslims formed Anjuman Hamiat-i-Urdu, and
established its branches all over the country. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan saw that
the Hindus were offensive against Urdu not only as an indication of Hindu
cultural revival, but as a mortal blow to the unity and solidarity of Muslims.
Thus he told one of his Friend that,
“it was no longer possible for the two nations to be partners with each other
in any common enterprise”.
His work

In 1858, he wrote a pamphlet “Essay on the causes of Indian Revolt”,

in which he attributed the Mutiny to British ignorance of Indian feelings.
In a well argued discussion, he tried to prove that there might have
been on revolt, had the British rulers been isolated from their Indian
subjects and had they kept in touch with Indian through the
representative institutions. In his next work “The Loyal Muhammadan
of India”, he defended the Muslims against the British charge of
disloyalty. After retirement from service in 1876, he was made member
of Governor-General’s Legislative Council from 1878 to 1883.
His Ideas:
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan believed in the trinity of ideas;
• Loyalty to British
• Devotion to Education
• Aloofness from Politics
Services of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
His Religious Services:
1). In the field of religion, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was an autonomous. He
has gradually disentangled himself from the bond of taqlid. In this regard,
he was deeply influenced by the teaching and methodology of Shah Wali
Ullah. The aim of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was to interpret Islam in such a
way as to withstand the attacks of English scholars; who had created
doubts in the mind of average Muslims by producing literature such as
Muir’s Biography of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). William Muir, in his
book, made many allegations against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and
Islam. In the reply of this book, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan wrote biographical
essay on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in English, later published in Urdu
under the title of “Al Khutbat-i-Ahmediya”, refuted the allegations of Muir
and other missionaries like him. It is remarkable that Syed Ahmed Khan
did not approach the religious controversy with bitter partisanship. His
approach was conciliatory designed to help both Muslims and Christians
to a better understanding of each other’s religion.
2). Another work in this regard was his “Commentary of Bible”. In its
first volume, he adopted the method of tahrif and refused to believe that
Jews and Christians corrupted the scriptures intentionally or
unintentionally. He attempted to bring the Christian interpretation of
Bible into agreement with Muslim Opinion.
In its second volume, he criticized the Muslims for outmoded social-
legal code, which deals with social, political and administrative affairs.
Therefore, he believed that it was most important duty of modern
Muslims to formulate new codes, which might be suitable for their
present needs.
3). Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s main objective was to interpret Islam as a
natural religion. Therefore, he wrote a “Commentary of Quran”, which
was in fact a collection of essays and not word-by-word commentary.
He discussed only a number of verses relating to the questions, which
he considered most important for his time. Most of his interpretation
involved the natural phenomena, which he tried to explain in the term
of natural causation. His commentary gave rise to a great controversy
among Muslims.
Educational Services:
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan believed that the spread of education is the only mean
for the promotion of national cause. At the same time, he was conscious of
the fact that traditional Muslim education was hopelessly out of date in this
modern technical age. In India from 1857 to1859, total graduate Hindus were
715 while total Muslims were 20. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan thought it necessary
for Muslims to get modern education. That is why he stated an educational
movement to awaken the educational conscious among the Muslims. Its
center was Ali Garh. That is why, it is also called Ali Garh Movement. Sir
Syed Ahmed Khan took the following steps for the Movement.
Establishment of Muradabad School:
In 1859, he established a school at Muradabad. in that school, along with
religious education, Urdu, Arabic, Persian and English were taught.
Establishment of Ghazipur School:
In 1862/63, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was posted to Ghazipur. Here also he
established a school that is called Madrassa Ghazipur. In that school, along
with Urdu, Arabic and Persian, English was taught as a compulsory subject.
Later on this school was joined with Victoria High School after the posting of
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Formation of Scientific Society:
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan formed a scientific society in Ghazipur in
1864.basic purpose of this society was to translate the English books and
essays into Urdu for the common Indians. Due to the posting of Sir Syed,
this society was also shifted to Ali Garh. That is way it is famous by
Scientific Society Ali Garh.
British Indian Association:
In 1866, he founded British Indian Association, through which he sent a
plan of vernacular University, which collapsed because of Hindu
opposition.
Aligarh Institute Gazette:
On March 30, 1866, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan published a weekly, Aligarh
Institute Gazette from Ali Garh. It has two aims;
i. One was to finish the bay present between the Britishers and Indian.
ii. Second was to work for the educational development of Muslims of
India.
In the beginning of the Gazette was weekly but later on it was started to be
published after every three days. On the side of its page, it was in Urdu
and on the other side, it was in English.
Establishment of M.A.O High School, College Ali Garh:
In order to investigate the method of English education. He accompanied
his son Syed Mahmood went to England in 1869 and stayed there for
seventeen months studying English educational institutions, including
Cambridge University. Soon after, he return to India, he set up a
committee called the “Committee Striving for Educational Progress of
Muslims”, of which he was elected secretary. Under this committee
another committee was constituted namely “Fund Committee for the
foundation of a Muslim College” and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan became the
secretary. He toured throughout the country and collected funds for the
college. The members of committee decided first for the funding of a
model school, which would demonstrate to the people that the proposed
education system did not contradict the Principle of Islam.
On May 24, 1875 this school was opened under the name of M.A.O High
School at Aligarh. He succeeded in upgrading the High school to the
college level. The College started the classes on January 1, 1878, which
was inaugurated by Lord Lytton. There were two departments, an English
department, in which university courses were given and an Oriental
department, in which modern sciences were taught in oriental languages.
Muhammadan Educational Conference:
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan realized that although college served a purpose,
yet it could not meet the need of the whole Muslim populace. He,
therefore, hit upon a plan of national educational institute, where all
available resources could be centralized for the advancement of
education among Muslims. To embody the idea, he established
“Muhammadan Educational Conference” in 1886, which presented a
12-point programme, to advance the western and religious education in
English and oriental language.

Objects of Educational Conference:

i. To teach the Muslims Western Education
ii. To make efforts for the betterment of religious education in the English
medium school of Muslims
iii. To give performance to eastern education and Islamiat.
iv. To collect information about the conditions of religious schools and to make
efforts for their betterment.
From M.A.O College Ali Garh to Muslim
University Aligarh:
It was the desire of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan that his college became a
University. This dream could not come true during his life. After his
death his son Syed Mahmood became the secretary of Administrative
trust. He was a Western type of person. So soon this post was taken
back from him and was given to Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk. In 1907, after
the death of Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk, Nawab Waqar-ul-Mulk became
the Secretary. He resign due to his difference with European teachers
and due to his bad health in 1912. after that Nawab Ihaq Khan became
the secretary of the trust. Later on Sir Agha Khan took the seat. During
his period in 1921, Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College was given the
status of Muslims University, and Muslims got their own education and
Sir Syed’s dream came true.
Political Services:
1. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s political ideology remained loyal, rather
submission to the English. But at the same time, he did not
recognize the dictatorship, monarchy or hereditary kingship. He
believed that as Indian had lost a capacity of self rule, therefore
self-government or any other such government should not be
introduced in India. In his view Indian were unfit for democratic rule.
2. With regard Hindus, his attitude was conciliatory by Hindu’s
opposition to Urdu changed his ideas. Moreover, the cow-protection
societies, the shuddhi Movement and Hindu’s demand of self-rule
and Hindu’s hostile behavior towards Muslims awoke him from the
dream of Hindu Muslim unity. Thus, he came to the conclusion that
Hindus and Muslims belonged to difference nations. After the
establishment of All India National Congress, he adopted a correct
view of a nation. It is so happened that congress followed such
policies which were suited only to Hindus outlook. Thus, he forbade
the Muslims not to join the Congress and keep away from it,
3. The policies followed by the congress and different Hindus
organizations, the demands of Hindus and their behavior made Sir
Syed Ahmed Khan to realize and to think that actually the Hindus
constitute a separate nation and Muslims constitute an other
separate nations with different racial stock, different cultures, he
identified Muslims as a nation. Thus he was the first thinker, who
gave name of nation to Muslims. He said,
“Remember a nation is nothing unless it is a nation in the real sense.
All individuals joining the fold of Islam together constitute a nation of
Muslims. As long as they follow the practice of this beloved religion,
They are a nation”.
4. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan had two distinct traits in his political career,
namely, his realization of the Muslims as separate nation and his
consciousness of the fact that on account Hindu hostile attitude, the
two nations can not live together and one day they had to part with
each other. Of course, he could not visualize a separate homeland for
the Muslims but surely he was a forerunner perhaps founder of the two
nation theory.
5. The demand of self rule had been made by the Hindus repeatedly.
All India National Congress made the same demand from its own
platform and began to pressurized the British Government to accept
it. Hindus continued their agitation for the more jobs and more seats
for Hindus in the legislative councils. A bill sponsored by
Government, was moved by the Hindu members of Governor
General Legislative Council in 1882 to introduce the self rule in
India. As already mentioned, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was not in
favour of self-rule for Indian at the present time. He was the only
Muslim member of the Central Legislative Council at the time of the
introduction of the bill.
6. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan presented an amended bill, in which he
suggested for the separate electorate for Muslims, if the Governor
approve the self-rule for Indian. According to which, Muslims would
elect Muslims and Hindus would elect Hindus representatives. The
bill could not get approved but left deep impression on the minds of
Muslims, which later on, converted into a movement for separate
electorate, Consequently a Muslims deputation met Viceroy at
Shimla and All India Muslim League was formed in 1906.
Effects of Ali Garh Movement:
Aligarh movement injected a new life and enthusiasm in the dead body of the
Muslims nation and helped them to regain their lost glory and prestige. It re-
infused confidence among the Muslims to fight for their economic and social
rights. It was a broad movement, which left its impacts on every aspect of
Muslim life. It felt far-reaching impact on social, economic, religious, political
and cultural aspect of life. It revived hope and self-confidence, showed more
ways to progress and opened doors for Muslims to modern education and
economic propriety.
Development of Western Education:
Basic aim of Ali Garh movement was to develop western education among
Muslims. The movement succeeded very soon. It was center of Muslim’s
Education.
Establishment of Islamic Educational Institution:
Because of the positive effects of Aligarh Movement Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-
Islam formed Islamia High School in Punjab, Hassan Afandi formed Sindh
Madrassah-tul- Islam in Karachi and Shaibzadah Abdul Qayum formed
Islamia College Peshawar. Similarly other educational institutes were formed
throughout the country.
Economic Development of Muslims:
Muslims started to get the Western education along with their Islamic
education because of the Movement. That is the reason they get
government and non-government jobs soon. This helped them to
prosper economically.
Political Leadership:
Due to the Ali Garh Movement Muslims had leaders like Sir Syed
Ahmed Khan, Nawab Mehdi Khan commonly known Nawab Mohsin-ul-
Mulk, Nawab Waqar-ul-Mulk, Muhammad Ali Johar, Maulana Shokat
ALI and Nawab Ishaq Khan. They all helped in the formation of All
India Muslim League in 1906.
Development of Urdu Language:
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan developed his life for the Muslims of India. After
him Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk formed different organization for this
purpose. Because of these steps, Urdu developed a lot. Modern Urdu
literature was produced which became in integral part of Islamic
Civilization
Role in Pakistan Movement:
In the Pakistan Movement, the role of Ali Garh students is very
important. This calls always led the Muslims of India. The
graduates of Muslims University Ali Garh, on the appeal of Quaid-i-
Azam, closed their books for some time and demanded for
Pakistan. This produced such a desire in the hearts of Muslims
that they went for their separate homeland.
Negative Effects of Ali Garh Movement:
Most of the teachers of Ali Garh University were Britishers. That
was the reason that it was not possible to keep the students safe
from western civilization. They did not prove themselves as good
Muslim. Sir Syed himself said.
“I am astonished the people who get education became civil and
worst nation instead of good”.
Comments/ Conclusion

THANKS